BBC director-general Tim Davie has “sort of banned” referring to senior on-screen staff as “talent” following a series of controversies involving senior presenters.

Davie was speaking after the BBC launched an independent review of its corporate culture following scandals including that surrounding disgraced presenter Huw Edwards.

Other controversies have included a furore over the welfare of contestants during the 2023 season of Strictly Come Dancing and the sacking of presenter Jermaine Jenas after complaints about his conduct in the workplace.

Speaking to Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4’s Today show with the BBC, amid an independent review of workplace culture following scandals surrounding news presenter Huw Edwards, social complaints over the Strictly Come Dancing contestants and the sacking of One Show host Jermaine Jenas. Regarding “workplace conduct,” Davie said no one within the company was “essential.”

He told Robinson: “We often call people like you talented, but I kind of forbade that. You are a presenter, I am a leader of the organization and we are here to serve.

“I think over the last decade we’ve seen fundamental changes in the culture of this industry, and it’s not entirely unique (to the BBC) that those who have had power in some places can often misuse it in ways I think the BBC is totally committed – you see us acting in good faith to address this (problem) – and I would say (it’s) important that everyone is treated as such. equally, regardless of rank.

Grahame Russell, executive chairman and founder of management consultancy Change Associates, is leading the ongoing review of the BBC’s corporate culture, which Davie said would be helpful to Robinson in “sorting out that culture”.

The BBC chief was also asked if there had been any progress in returning Edwards the estimated £200,000 salary paid to him between his arrest and his departure from the corporation in April. He said there had been “some dialogue with lawyers, but we haven’t resolved this yet.”

When asked if he believed the money would be returned, Davie firmly gave Edwards and his representatives the floor, saying: “I think the ball is clearly not in my court on this point .”